TVR Chimaera lowering
Discussion
Be very careful lowering it... I lowered mine when I first put on Nitrons and I found that it induced a shed load of body roll in the corners as the relationship between the ARB and hub changed so that the ARB didn't start working until the body had rolled a lot more. In the end I put it back up as it was a pain in the arse...
450Nick said:
Be very careful lowering it... I lowered mine when I first put on Nitrons and I found that it induced a shed load of body roll in the corners as the relationship between the ARB and hub changed so that the ARB didn't start working until the body had rolled a lot more. In the end I put it back up as it was a pain in the arse...
/\ THIS!!!!It may look cool being lowered but will handle like a pig. Rule of thumb is to make the lower wishbones parallel with the ground (with you sat in it).
Edited by griffdude on Tuesday 2nd June 13:12
Steino, a warm welcome to the Chimaera forums. 
You are expected to post up pics of your new pride and joy (and the car too), so that we can all admire your brilliant purchase and know what we are answering about.
Glad you asked the question before doing the deed on the ride height, and I hope you took the answers positively.
I agree with the others, the Griff and Chim are both very sensitive in the handling department and don't like being lowered too far. Rear ride height first, to make the wishbones parallel to the ground, then set the front ride height about 10 mm lower. You probably won't get the front wishbones quite level. You know to use the G spanner on the twin spring base rings, don't you?
The best advice I have ever heard for a new owner is if you have any doubts about the handling, get it down to an independent TVR expert and invest £100 in a full four wheel geo and ride height adjustment. A good indie will also check over all the suspension joints and check the chassis condition before he even starts with the geo machine, so it's money well spent. My car handled appallingly when i first got it, tried to throw me into the scenery at every opportunity. Turned out the dealer who had sold it to me had had to change the front ball joints to get it through pre-sale MOT and didn't bother to realign the suspension. Result was it was way out of alignment. My TVR expert made me his first customer on his new Hunter four wheel aligner, and I have never looked back handling-wise. If you aren't near to a TVR independent, and being from the land of lava, -ssons and -dottirs you might not be, then a good sports car garage will be fine, as they should have the TVR settings in the machine.
You are expected to post up pics of your new pride and joy (and the car too), so that we can all admire your brilliant purchase and know what we are answering about.
Glad you asked the question before doing the deed on the ride height, and I hope you took the answers positively.
I agree with the others, the Griff and Chim are both very sensitive in the handling department and don't like being lowered too far. Rear ride height first, to make the wishbones parallel to the ground, then set the front ride height about 10 mm lower. You probably won't get the front wishbones quite level. You know to use the G spanner on the twin spring base rings, don't you?
The best advice I have ever heard for a new owner is if you have any doubts about the handling, get it down to an independent TVR expert and invest £100 in a full four wheel geo and ride height adjustment. A good indie will also check over all the suspension joints and check the chassis condition before he even starts with the geo machine, so it's money well spent. My car handled appallingly when i first got it, tried to throw me into the scenery at every opportunity. Turned out the dealer who had sold it to me had had to change the front ball joints to get it through pre-sale MOT and didn't bother to realign the suspension. Result was it was way out of alignment. My TVR expert made me his first customer on his new Hunter four wheel aligner, and I have never looked back handling-wise. If you aren't near to a TVR independent, and being from the land of lava, -ssons and -dottirs you might not be, then a good sports car garage will be fine, as they should have the TVR settings in the machine.
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